Military sales between US and Egypt worth $2.56 billion
The US State Department approved Tuesday two major military equipment sales to Egypt of transport aircraft and radar systems.
The sale of 12 C-130 J Super Hercules transports and accompanying equipment is worth $2.2 billion.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale, still not finalized, “will improve Egypt’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing airlift support for its forces by moving supplies, equipment, and people.”
The aircraft can also be used for maritime patrol and rescue missions, it added.
In a second deal, Egypt can buy ground-based air defense systems worth $355 million to help it fend off air threats.
For fiscal year 2022, which began on October 1, 2021, the Biden administration budgeted $1.4 billion in bilateral assistance — most of it military related — for Cairo, the same as the previous year.
Two lawmakers who have been critical of US arms sales to Egypt said Tuesday that Egypt has not met the conditions required to remove the suspension on the frozen $130 million.
The two arms deals also gained approval nearly three weeks after US authorities arrested a New York man accused of spying on political opponents of Sisi.
